Ajax Cape Town couldn’t find a way to play to a home a draw, despite being handed a penalty, when they fell to a 1-0 Absa Premiership defeat at Cape Town Stadium against Black Leopards on Sunday afternoon.

Bradley Grobler and Sean Roberts were absent for the Urban Warriors whilst Koen van de Laak made his return to the set-up on the bench.

The first chance fell to the home side when Toriq Losper took a crack at goal, on the half volley, but his shot from Granwald Scott’s looping ball only landed in the hands of the keeper, 13 minutes in.

Lebogang Manyama threatened at goal when he fired in a long range set-piece, ten minutes later, but it forced Azwindini Maphaha to gather the ball.

Leopards’ first real attack arrived on the half hour when Tiyane Mabunda made a run along the flank before cutting in and shooting at the near post, however, Sander Westerveld was equal to it.

Alcardo van Graan took Grobler’s place on the field and he looked to break the deadlock just before the break when a long cross was sent into the goal, but it was over hit.

David Zulu couldn’t continue any longer on the field and he was replaced by Joshua Obaje a minute into the second half.

Ajax were handed the perfect opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 57th minute after Khama Billiat was brought down.

Manyama stood up to take the effort but it was a weak one as Maphaha dropped down and gathered with ease.

Nhlanhla Shabalala picked up another knock, to add to his growing list of injuries, and he was replaced by Koen van de Laak, whilst a further injury saw Mosa Lebusa replaced by Aiden Jenniker just after the hour mark.

There was a bit of confusion on the field when van de Laak left the field of play without permission. The referee showed him a yellow card as he went down the tunnel, while Nhlanhla Vilakazi took his place, just eight minutes after coming onto the field.

All the injuries seemed to have taken their toll as Ajax they fell apart when substitute Joshua Obaje ran through the Ajax defence before slotting home a diagonal strike with ten minutes to be played, 1-0.

There was little Ajax could do to make a comeback as they fell to their second successive defeat since Jan Pruijn’s take over as coach.

Ajax Cape Town: (0) 0

Black Leopards: (0) 1 (Obaje 80’)

Teams:

Ajax Cape Town: Westerveld, Hlatshwayo, Booth, Allie, Lebusa (Jenniker 63’), Shabalala (van de Laak 60’ Vilakazi 69’), Billiat, Losper, Scott, Manyama, Van Graan

Black Leopards: Maphaha; Dzaga; Nyirenda; Sithole; Ntshingila; Munganga; Bobe; Madimba (Maake 55’); Mabunda; Nkambule; Zulu [Obaje 46’ (Xakane 90+1’)]